Missoula City-County COVID-19 Information
Welcome to Missoula City-County Health Department's new website for COVID-19 information. We've developed this site for easier access to current, accurate information related to COVID-19 in Missoula County. Please use the tabs across the top of the page to find the information that you are looking for.
The Latest COVID-19 Briefing:
Latest News:
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On Monday, Sept. 20, Missoula County’s COVID-19 hospitalization record, active case record and incidence rate record were shattered for the second week in a row as the latest wave of COVID-19 continued to batter local hospital systems.
In Missoula County, 50 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 1,386 residents currently have the virus and the average daily new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days reached a new height of 89.
Health officials say this latest surge is showing no signs of slowing down. “This is the absolute worst we have seen it since the pandemic started,” explains COVID-19 Incident Commander Cindy Farr, “we cannot continue in this direction for the safety of the community.”
Frustrating health officials even more so, is that they say there is no good reason for the community to be in this position with there being a safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccine available to everyone 12 and older.
“The data are clear and the data show this latest wave is hitting communities with low vaccination levels. We’re proud that Missoula County has the highest vaccination rate in the state of Montana, but in the grand scheme of things, the vaccination rate is nowhere near a level that would be considered herd immunity,” says Health Officer D’Shane Barnett.
Health officials say herd immunity would be upwards of 75% of all residents getting vaccinated. In addition to getting vaccinated, residents should wear a mask in public, wash their hands and keep their social circles small. These mitigation measures are proven to be effective at slowing the spread.
“We cannot get past this pandemic if it continues to be about pro-vaccine people versus anti-vaccine people,” says Barnett, “you either want to see this virus win or you want to see our community win. We can and will beat this if enough people get vaccinated.”
Contact Us:
For vaccine or testing questions call (406) 258-INFO (4636).
Please note, public comments submitted to us are considered public and are discoverable under a Freedom of Information Act request.
For general questions and public comments email: COVID-19pio@missoulacounty.us